HC Deb 01 December 1943 vol 395 cc350-1
43. Mr. Liddall

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport the number of men at present employed by the London Passenger Transport Board as traffic regulators; and whether, in order to release the physically fit for work of greater importance to the war effort, he will lay it down that one male traffic regulator at each omnibus terminus is all that is necessary in wartime?

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport (Mr. Noel-Baker)

The London Passenger Transport Board employ 670 traffic regulators on their road servives. I am advised that one regulator, working alone, would not be able efficiently to supervise at a number of the Board's important terminals the operation of the omnibus.

Mr. Liddall

Is it then necessary to have six at the Elephant and Castle, three at Camberwell Green, three at Waterloo Station, three at New Cross Gate, two at High Street, Peckham—[Interruption]—about 22 in a very small area?

Mr. Noel-Baker

I will look into the figures which my hon. Friend has provided, but I assure him that the proper working of these omnibuses is extremely important to the passengers and that the Board have done their best to reduce the number of regulators to a minimum.